How to: Modern 1920 Flapper Makeup

If you are looking for an elegant and sophisticated evening look, take inspiration from the 1920s flapper makeup. We went for a modern take on this timeless classic – follow the steps with us and get the look.

Quick Tip: As we will be using a lot of products for this look, it’s important your prep your skin. This includes going for a moisturiser and a mattifying primer before moving on to makeup.

Ready? Let’s Start!

Step 1: Apply Foundation

Apply your usual foundation all over the face. Go for a generous amount as we need to conceal all of our blemishes and end up with a porcelain doll-like look.

Step 2: Conceal, Conceal, Conceal

Conceal under your eyes as well as anywhere you spot a blemish. A flawless complexion was important to the 1920s flapper girls. After you've finished concealing your skin, apply concealer to your eye brows and lips. Our deep makeup look will require a blank canvas to start with.

Step 3: Apply Mattifying Powder

This time an illuminated look is not what we are going for, that’s why we will opt for a powder with a mattifying finish. Using a large brush, apply a generous amount.

Step 4: Accentuate The Arch Of Your Eye Brows

Let’s move on to your eye brows. Using a pencil or a thin angled brush and pomade, accentuate the arch of your eye brows. Don’t shy away from making it look dramatic by adding small gentle strokes that mimic eye brow hair. Lengthen the eye brow ends as well to intensify the look.

Step 5: Soften the Eye Brow

If you feel that your eye brows are too strong, simply pare them down by gently brushing over.

Step 6: Start on Your Eyes

Add a primer all over the eye lid and follow with a matte skin-tone eye shadow shade.

Step 7: Time to Intensify the Eye Makeup

Using a slightly darker brown shade, create a triangle shape across your eye lid going from the inner corner of your eye to the outer.

Step 8: Create a Dark Circular Shape From the Outer Corner Going In

Next, create a circular shape with a darker shade from the outer corner going in. As this is a dramatic look, go well above the crease. The trick is to be generous with the eye shadow and blend, blend, blend.

Step 9: Line the Lower Lash Line

Using the same dark shade or an even darker one, line your lower lash line. You can also use the blended brown shades to contour your nose for a modern twist on the 1920s flapper girl makeup.

Step 10: Add Drama with Black Eyeliner

Line the contour of your eye including the waterline with a black kohl eye liner. Don’t shy away from layering it on, after all - we’re going for drama.

Step 11: Curl Your Eye Lashes and Apply Mascara

Curl and really elongate those lashes by coating on the mascara. Just like with the kohl eye liner, the more the better both on the top and bottom.

Step 12: Add Blusher

Work the blusher into the contours of your face to add depth and shape.

Step 13: Underlining the Lips

1920s flapper girls loved a bold lip! Take inspiration from their adventurous look and really highlight your cupid’s bow with a deep lip liner shade. Once you’ve accentuated your cupid’s bow, make your lip corners look smaller by lining under your natural lip line and then concealing around your new smaller lip line.

Step 14: Fill In Your Lips with Dark Lipstick

Go for a dark berry shade (or if you are feeling adventurous - black) and fill in your lips. For extra definition, go ahead and fill in your lips using a brush.